Writing Tip #2: Have a Place to Write
- Lowell Sheppard
- May 2
- 2 min read
A small thing that makes a big difference
One of the best decisions I made when writing Dare to Dream was to leave my boat and rent a tiny room near the marina. It had a bed, a desk, and little else. It wasn’t glamorous, but it gave me what I needed: space to think and the quiet to write. That space gave the book shape.

This time, I’ve found my writing refuge a little differently. My sailboat, Wahine, is moored out in the middle of Buren Bay — far from the dock, far from distractions, and far from the list of “just one more thing” tasks that sneak in when you're too accessible.
Out here, no visitors are popping by, no dock conversations pulling me out of focus. I’m not preparing for a passage, and boat tasks are blessedly quiet. It’s just me, the water, and the page. Yesterday, I began the first draft of my next book, A Journey Beyond the Blue Zone.
If you’re writing — or thinking about writing — having a dedicated space matters more than most people realize. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to let you focus.
I’m sharing a few of these thoughts as I write, in case they’re helpful to anyone else working on their book or thinking of starting one. And if you're curious about what this next book is about, or want to follow along, the Kickstarter campaign is now live.
👉 You can pre-order the book or join me for livestreams, reflections, and even a retreat aboard Wahine:🔗 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pacificsolo/a-journey-beyond-the-blue-zone
Thanks for reading — and may your creative space be quiet, focused, and just uncomfortable enough to keep you working.